Carbon paper cross-feed for autographic registers



NW0 2?, W51 L. A. HOLMAN 5 9 CARBON PAPERCROSS FEED FOR AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTERS Filed July 25, 1949 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 m E INVENTOR LESLIE A.H01.MAN

ATTO EYS NQWD 27, RQEE HOLMAN 2,576,379

CARBON PAPER CROSS FEED FOR AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTERS Filed July 23, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR 11351.12 A-HOLN'AN BY figw TTORN s Patented Nov. 27, W551 CARBON PAPER CROSS-FEED FOR AUTQGRAPHIC REGISTERS Leslie A. Holman, Waitham, Mass., assignor to The McCa-skey Register Company, Alliance,

Ohio, a corporation Application July 23, 1949, Serial No. 106,385

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for the cross feed of a sheet or plurality of sheets of carbon paper in manifolding machines or autographic registers.

An object of the invention is to provide mechanism automatically operable, upon actuating the web feed for a usual strip of superimposed sheets of paper for registering sections thereof at a writing table of the machine, to draw by degrees a strip of carbon paper transversely of the writing table andthereby gradually renew the transfer surfaces of the carbon paper as the same is used and becomes worn and deteriorated.

Ordinarily an autographic register is provided with a supply of carbon paper in strip or roll form at one side of the writing table, the carbon sheets being inserted between the superimposed sheets of paper according to the number of copies desired. The carbon paper remains in fixed relation with successive sheets of paper advancing over the table until it comes to the attention of the operator that the under or duplicate sheets are not receiving the impression of the written material clearly or the writing is becoming excessively faint or smudged. The impression received at relatively fixed locations as in the figure columns of billing sheets is most likely to become indistinct in a comparatively short time. The operator on noticing the poorly executed duplicate sheets will then renew the transfer surfaces by manually drawing the carbon paper crosswise. This is done either partially to compensate for a heavily used area as a figure column or entirely to present a completely new 1 transfer surface.

It is an object of this invention to provide a roller device and mechanism to actuate the same by interrelating the paper web strip feeding means with said mechanism so that the carbon paper will be transversely edged across the writing table by degrees during each use of the register.

A further object is to provide a device of simplified construction, economical to manufacture, and effective in operation, the elements of which may be built into a register as original equipment or easily supplied as an attachment on machines already in use.

These and other advantages will be disclosed in the following description of an embodiment of the invention as shown by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view .of an autographic I register;

Fig. 2 is aplan view of the writing table of the register with parts cut away to show the new device mounted in position and the relationship of the various parts;

Fig. 3 is a view on line t3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view on enlarged scale of the cross feed device shown by Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the position of parts in actuating the device; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are view similar to Fig. 4 showingpartiy in section the relative position of the parts as in Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring to the drawings, the autographic register has a casing I with a hinged top 2 providing an opening therein for a platen or writing table Under the writing table the casing is provided with a compartment 4 for the supply of manifolding strips of paper arranged in conventional fashion as by zig-zag folding. In the forward portion of the casing is a receptacle indicated by 5 for record storage to receive as in a refolded condition the lower strip of a manifolding number used, all as will be readily understood by those in the art.

Means for feeding the paper strips for successive registration of sheet sections thereof on the table include a crank handle 6 for rotation of a drive shaft 1 having fixed thereon two spaced lower feed discs 8. The discs 8 have segmental peripheries to cooperate with complementary upper feed rolls (not shown) enclosed in a cap 9 carried on the casing cover 2. Adjacent the discs are two tooth members H) for registering with punched openings in the top of the sheets of a manifold strip and for framing the sheets on the table. A gear H is fixed on shaft 1 for meshing with a complementary gear (not shown) for simultaneous rotation of the upper feed rolls. The construction of this mechanism for feeding the paper strips as partially illustrated is of a usual type and is fully disclosed in Patent No. 2,211,304 to H. J. Waechter granted August 13, 1940. A coiled spring brake I2 having one end thereof tied as shown to a compartment divider or wall I3 permits rotation of the shaft by the handle in a forward feeding direction and clutches the same against rotation in a rearward direction.

The compartment wall it defining a side wall of the compartment 4 has mounted at the top thereof between it and the outer casing, a box M for the carbon paper supply. The supply is,

as here shown, in the form of a roll on a rod held between an end wall i5 of the box and an upstanding bracket it of the box M. A spring of Fig. 8.

and sliding collar arrangement I1 is for mounting and demounting the rod by insertion of the opposite reduced and tapered end l8 into a slot in end wall l5.

As best shown by Figs. 3 and 4 the carbon sheet or plurality of sheets i9 extends transversely across the surface of table 3, a guide roller 23 being mounted on the side edge of table 3 adjacent the supply roll. Manifolding strips, as will be readily understood, are passed through an opening 2| (Fig. 2) at the rear end of the casin compartment 4 and over rolls 22 passing forwardly over the table 3 between the strip feed rolls previously described. In the example of register shown one complete revolution of the shaft l by handle serves to bring a succeeding section of the strip forward on the table. Table 3 is hinged as at 23 for lifting the same for access to supply compartment 4.

The carbon paper cross feeding means of this invention comprises a feed roller 24 mounted near the top of side wall 25 of the casing at the side of the table. The roller extends through an opening 26 therein, projecting beyond the plane of the wall to lie against the downturned flange 21 of casing cover 2. Roller 24 is fixed on a stem 28 (see Fig. 5) journaled in flanges 29 of a bracket 3i! mounted by holding screws 3| to the side wall 25 with the stem at right angles to the drive shaft l of the paper strip feeding means. At the other end of the stem is a bellcrank lever 32 having a hub 33 freely rotatable with relation to stem 28. The end of stem 28 is headed as at 4 34 to hold the assembly at that end.

A coiled spring 35 mounted between flange 29 and crank 32 has one end 36 keyed to the crank. The spring is telescoped on the stem frictionally engaging the same for rotation in a direction to turn the roller and draw the carbon sheet across the table. Spring 35 is wound on stem 28 in a direction opposite to the direction of carbon feeding movement of said stem as viewed from the crank end so as to grip the stem when the bellcrank is turned as in the direction of the arrow A braking means, spring 31, between the roller 24 and the opposite flange 29 and keyed thereto by end 38 holds the shaft 28 against rotation reversely to the feeding movement. The

spring 31 is also wound in a direction counter to the direction of feeding movement of stem 28 as viewed from its keyed end and the crank end of the stem.

Roller 24 of rubberized material has a frictional surface and is mounted between two washers as a roller wheel and is held on the end of the stem by a nut 40.

A cam wheel having a collar 4| spaced from casing side wall 25 is mounted on shaft 1 and carries a projection plate 42 adjustably secured thereon as by a threaded bolt 43 set in a slot 44 cut in the edge of collar 4|. Cam projection 42 is shown with an outer curved striking surface, its inner end straddling hub 45 which spaces the cam plate 42 from side wall 25. As will be seen by considering Figs. 6 and 8, the cam projection i2 is adapted to lift an arm 46 of crank 32, the arm being horizontally disposed in the path of the cam. Thus stem 28 and roller 24 are partially turned during each revolution of shaft l and each feed of a manifold sheet. The

degree to which the stem 28 is turned may be varied by adjusting the bolt 43 to a position desired in the slot 44. A vertical leg 4'! of the crank is slotted as at 43 to receive the free end of a wire spring 49 anchored as at on the bracket 3B.

The spring means 49 serves to urge the crank in a direction counter to the feeding movement of the stem and roller and returns the crank after its actuation by the cam.

The coiled spring driving member 35 and braking member (if serve as a one Way clutch mechanism to advance the carbon paper strip and to relieve tension on the strip after each partial turning of the roller 24. It will be realized that the turning of stem 23 in the direction of feeding movement is accomplished b the turning of crank 32 to bind spring 35 on the stem and that without the brake spring 3? the stem 28 would be reversely turned by the frictional engagement of "spring 35 thereon when crank 32 returns to position with its vertical leg 4? resting against casing wall 25.

During feeding movement of the roller the turning of the stem tends to unwind 5 ring 3"! and to relieve any frictional grip thereon. As spring 31 is held by the bracket, the stem revolves with relation to said spring. Upon the tendency of stem 23 to turn in a reverse direction under urging by drive spring 35, spring 3? grips the stem against such reverse movement and permits rotation of spring 35 on the stem in its return to operative position with crank 32. The free wheeling of the latter spring on the stem is also caused by the tendency of the stem to unwind it and relieve its frictional grip.

From this description of the spring clutch drive it will be seen that as spring 35 begins its return to operative position there is a slight reverse hitch in the movement of the stem and roller in order to take up the slack in the coils of spring 31 and enable a firm grip of the latter against such reverse movement. Such a reverse hitching movement of the roller is of advantage in relieving the tension of the roller on the carbon sheets so that said sheets will not remain in tightly stretched condition between the manifold strips across the table. As the carbon sheets are drawn in their crosswise path by frictional engagement between the roller and flange 2? there is a natural tendency to stretch the sheets tautly against the resistance of the transversel advancing manifold paper. The relief from tension afforded by the spring arrangement disclosed prevents any tendency of the carbon sheets to remain stretched and taut in use.

It is to be noted that the mounting means 3| for the bracket 30 is spaced from the roller end of the stem 28, as at the left hand side of Figs. 5 and 6. Such spacing is provided to permit a slight flexing of the bracket end when a plural ity of carbon sheets are used in the machine and the thickness of a strip being drawn crosswise is appreciably more than with one or two sheets. Thus the roller is positioned against the flange 25 with a resilient yielding pressure and acts to draw the carbon paper strip by frictional engagement in partially turning roller 24 during each revolution of shaft 7. As shown by Fig. 2 the roller is positioned at the midpoint of the side of table 3. A series of two or more rollers could be utilized as might be desirable.

In operation as the carbon paper strip is gradually edged across the table and drawn downwardly below the edge of cover flange 2'1 the operator is enabled to tear off the used end flap along the flange edge as a cutting edge.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A carbon paper cross feed for autographic superimposed sheets of paper including a drive shaft mounted transversely of said paper strip and a casing framing a writing table for successive registration of said sheets of paper, said cross feed comprising, a cam for said drive shaft, a roller wheel for positioning centrally at the side of-said writing table and against an inner wall surface of the writing table casing frame, a stem carrying said roller wheel in fixed relation at one endthereof and a bracket rotatably mounting said stem for attachment to said inner casing wall with said stem at right angles to the drive shaft, a cam follower extending directly into the path of said cam and journaled on the other end of the stem for actuation by said cam and a clutch mechanism between said follower and stem to impart movement to the stem and roller Wheel in one direction on movement of the follower in one direction by said cam and means to limit the reverse movement of said stem on reverse movement of said follower.

2. A carbon paper cross feed for autographic registers having means for feeding a strip of superimposed sheets of paper including a drive shaft mounted transversely of said paper strip and a casing with a flanged cover framing a writing table for successive registration of said sheets of paper, said cross feed comprising, a cam wheel for mounting on said drive shaft and carrying a cam projection with adjustable means for radial- 1y extending said projection from said wheel, a friction roller wheel for positioning at the side of said writing table and centrally thereof for extending through an opening in the adjacent wall of said casing to provide for pressure of said roller wheel against the flange of the cover, a stem carrying said roller wheel in fixed relation at one end thereof and a bracket rotatably mounting said stem and having means spaced from the roller wheel end for attachment to the casing with said stem at right angles to the drive shaft, a cam follower extending directly into the path of said cam and journaled on the other end of the stem for actuation by said adjustable cam projection and a one way clutch connection between said follower and stem for imparting motion to said roller Wheel upon rotation of said feeding means, said radial cam projection being adjustable to vary the degree of rotation of said roller wheel imparted by said rotation of the feeding means.

3. A carbon paper cross feed for autographic registers having means for feeding a strip of superimposed sheets of paper including a drive shaft mounted transversely of said paper strip and a casing with a flanged cover framing a writing table for successive registration of said sheets of paper, said cross feed comprising, a cam wheel having an adjustable projection for mounting on said drive shaft, a friction roller Wheel for positioning at the side of said writing table and for extending through an opening in the adjacent wall of said casing to provide for pressure of said roller wheel against the flange of the cover, a stem carrying said roller wheel in fixed relation at one end thereof for carbon feeding movement and a bracket rotatably mounting said stern for attachment to the casing with said stem at right angles to the drive shaft, a bell crank journaled on the other end of the stem for actuation by said cam, a. coiled spring telescoped on and frictionally engagin said stem and being wound in a direction counter to the feeding movement of said stem as viewed from the crank end of the stem, one end of said spring being keyed to said crank, spring means fixed to said bracket E; and keyed to said bell crank normally urging said crank oppositely to the aforesaid direction of feeding movement, and braking means on said stem locking the same against movement reversely to said feeding movement.

4. A carbon paper cross feed for autographic registers having means for feeding a strip of superimposed sheets of paper including a drive shaft mounted transversely of said paper strip and a casing with a flanged cover framing a writing table for successive registration of said sheets, said cross feed comprising, a cam wheel having an adjustable projection for mounting on said drive shaft, a friction roller wheel for positioning at the side of said writing table and for extending through an opening in the adjacent wall of said casing to provide for pressure of said roller wheel against the flange of the cover, a stem carrying said roller wheel in fixed relation at one end thereof for carbon feeding movement and a bracket rotatably mounting said stem for attachment to the casing with said stem at right angles to the drive shaft, a bell crank journaled on the other end of the stem for actuation by said cam, two coiled springs telescoped on and frictionally engaging said stem and being wound counter to the direction of feeding movement of said stem as viewed from the crank end, an end of one spring being keyed to the bell crank, an end of the other sprin being keyed to the bracket and yieldable means normally urging the bell crank in a direction counter to said stem feeding movement.

5. In a manifolding machine having means for feeding a strip of superimposed sheets of paper including a drive shaft mounted crosswise of the path of sheet travel, a walled compartment for strip supply provided with a writing table at the top thereof for registration of successive sheets of said strip, and a flanged compartment cover having an opening for framing said table, mechanism for advancing a sheet of carbon paper crosswise of said table comprising in combination a cam wheel fixed for rotation on said drive shaft adjacent an inner side wall of said compartment, a stem mounted on said compartment inner side wall at one side of the table and provided at one end thereof with a bell crank rotatably carried thereon with a horizontally disposed arm lying in the path of said cam, a one way clutch drive connection between said bell crank and stem, the other arm of said bell crank having spring means normally urging the same against driving engagement with the stem, a friction roller wheel fixed at the other end of said stem, the wall of said compartment having an opening therein for extension of said roller surface beyond the plane of the outer wall surface and against the flange of said compartment cover, whereby a strip of carbon paper lying crosswise of said table may be inserted between said roller wheel surface and flange for advancing the same upon rotation of said shaft of the strip feed mechanism.

6. A carbon paper cross feed for autographic registers having means for feeding a strip of superimposed sheets of paper including a drive shaft mounted transversely of said paper strip and a casing framing a writing table for successive registration of said sheets of paper, said cross feed comprising a cam for said drive shaft, a roller for positioning centrally at the side of said writing table and against an inner wall surface of the writing table casing frame, a stem having at one end thereof said roller fixed thereon, a bracket for attachment to said inner casing wall, said stem being journaled in the bracket at right angles to the drive shaft and with the other end of the stem adjacent said shaft, a cam follower extending directly into the path of said cam and journaled on said other end of the stem for actuation by said cam, and a one-way clutch comprising yieldable spring means on the stem connected to said follower for imparting forward rotary motion to the latter upon actuation of said follower by said cam, the release of said spring means upon disengagement of the follower from the cam imparting reverse rotary motion to said stem, and braking means for said stem to limit said reverse rotary motion to a fraction of the forward motion thereof and relieve the ten- 8 sion of a sheet of carbon paper under pressure from said roller.

LESLIE A. HOLMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,925,258 Kinzer Sept. 5, 1933 2,110828 Diesbach Mar. 8, 1938 2,163,684 Holmes et a1 June 27, 1939 2,273,841 Dodds Feb. 24, 1942 2,314,371 Sherman et al Mar. 23. 1943 2,331,336 Metzner Oct. 12, 1943 

